What is Heat’s reaction to Bam Adebayo being left out of Rising Stars Challenge? ‘That’s crazy’

MIAMI — For the most part, the Heat brushed off the fact they won’t be represented in this year’s All-Star Game. But when rookie Bam Adebayo’s name was not on the list of players voted into the Rising Stars Challenge, the Heat were surprised.

“That’s crazy. I really didn’t see that coming,” Udonis Haslem said in advance of Thursday’s game against the Kings. “There was no doubt in my mind Bam was definitely going to have a chance to represent the Heat in the rookie game. That’s very unfortunate.

“It’s hard to understand what those things come down to. I don’t know how they pick it. I don’t know if it’s popularity. But the body of work that Bam has put in when [Hassan Whiteside] was out and even with the opportunity he gets when H is in, he’s had a heck of an impact on us and this run that we’ve made. We couldn’t have been able to do it without Bam.”

The Rising Stars Challenge is a game that consists of 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world. Adebayo was not one of the 10 USA players voted in by NBA assistant coaches when the rosters were announced Wednesday night, with Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, Dallas’ Dennis Smith, Los Angeles’ Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, Chicago’s Kris Dunn, Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and Atlanta’s John Collins from Cardinal Newman High in West Palm Beach making up the roster instead.

“I must have not done enough,” Adebayo said Thursday when asked about not being picked for the showcase game. “But hey, I’ll get time to spend with my family and just move on from it. There’s always next year.”

Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Of the rookies on that list — Mitchell, Smith, Kuzma, Ball, Tatum and Collins — Tatum is the only one on a team with a winning record. Meanwhile, Adebayo has played in 38 games and made 10 starts for the Heat, which entered Thursday with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 27-20.

“It wasn’t our assistant coaches,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said when told assistant coaches vote for the players in the Rising Stars game. “I think Bam should definitely be considered for something. If they would have had rookies vs. sophomores, he would be in that game. The way he’s going, he’s going to be involved in something in the years ahead on that weekend. He’s got a great future ahead of him.”

The thing that probably kept Adebayo from being voted in is his limited playing time compared to the other rookies. The Heat’s first-round pick is averaging 19.9 minutes per game, which is ranked 18th among rookies and behind those who were picked for the USA team — Mitchell (31.9 minutes per game), Smith (28.5), Kuzma (30.7), Ball (33.9), Tatum (31.0) and Collins (22.2).

Adebayo, who was selected by Miami with the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft, is averaging 6.9 points on 56.0 percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists this season. Per 36 minutes, he’s averaging 12.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

“We all think he should have been in there,” Josh Richardson said. “It’s a tough selection process. But when we saw the lineups, we were confused as to how he didn’t get in there over some people on it. But all those guys on there are great players and there’s a lot of great young players in this league. So, you never know.”

The bad news for the Heat is that Adebayo won’t be representing them during All-Star weekend. The good news is that this will serve as motivation for Adebayo moving forward.

“He wasn’t too happy when he saw it,” Richardson said of Adebayo’s reaction to being left out of the Rising Stars Challenge. “Bam’s not a guy who will get visibly upset, but talking to him about it I could tell he wanted to be in there. I think he’s one of the most important young players in this league. He’s on a playoff team. So I think that should have played a part. I think he’s definitely going to hold that all year.”